Hebron – West Bank – ActionAid Palestine organized a training entitled “Starting and Managing Small Businesses” targeting 25 women from the restricted areas and the Old City of Hebron. The training is part of the “Basala – Empowering Women in the Old City of Hebron” project, funded by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT), in cooperation and partnership with the Hebron Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
The training focuses on introducing participants to the various stages of establishing and managing small businesses, from idea development and market needs assessment to business planning, financial management, and marketing.
The training aims to empower women, strengthen their leadership roles, enhance their economic independence, and expand their economic and social participation by building their capacities and equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to develop income-generating small businesses. It also seeks to support women in transforming their ideas and initiatives into viable enterprises capable of creating sustainable sources of income and increasing their ability to overcome the social and economic challenges resulting from restrictions on movement and limited access to employment opportunities in the restricted areas of Hebron.
This empowerment is directly linked to advancing the Women, Peace and Security (WPS) Agenda and United Nations Security Council Resolution 1325, which emphasizes the importance of women’s participation and empowerment in building more resilient and just societies. Economic empowerment strengthens women’s roles as decision-makers within their families and communities, enhances their confidence, and increases their ability to influence local issues and advocate for their rights and needs. In doing so, it promotes the principles of participation, protection, and recovery, which are key pillars of the Women, Peace, and Security Agenda.
Supporting women’s small businesses also contributes to their protection by reducing their vulnerability to economic exploitation and coercion during crises and armed conflicts. Investing in women’s economic security is a vital strategy for responding to emergencies in communities living under the pressures of armed conflict and military occupation.
The “Basala” Project supports women in the Old City of Hebron by strengthening their small businesses and providing them with the training, skills, tools, and resources necessary to establish, manage, and implement their enterprises. The project’s activities also provide a safe space for women to express themselves, meet and connect with one another, and exchange experiences, knowledge, and information. In addition, women are linked with local institutions to facilitate their access to essential services and enhance their participation in public and community life.
About ActionAid International
ActionAid International is a global federation working with over 41 million people living in more than 72 of the world's poorest countries. We envision a world characterized by justice and sustainability, where every individual has the right to a dignified life and freedom, and a world free from poverty and oppression. We strive to achieve social justice, gender equality, and eradicate poverty.
ActionAid Palestine began its work in Palestine in 2007 to strengthen the resilience of the Palestinian people, believing in their right to enjoy freedom, justice, and self-determination. ActionAid Palestine implements several programs through its engagement with Palestinian communities and youth and women’s groups, aiming to empower women and youth and enhance their active civil and political participation to understand their rights and undertake collective action to address the rights violations resulting from the prolonged occupation, in addition to improving their leadership capacity and practicing their citizenship in holding authorities and other duty bearers accountable.
For more information, please contact:
Riham Jafari
Communication and Advocacy Officer at ActionAid Palestine
Email: Riham.Jafari@actionaid.org